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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Bunch Trail is a pass play out of the Shotgun Bunch formation with 11 personnel, built to attack man coverage with route stems that create natural rubs and separation off the bunch alignment. The outside receiver runs a deep vertical from the bunch while the middle receiver runs a trail route underneath into a shallow crosser, and the inside bunch receiver breaks off a quick out into a corner route that climbs the sideline. The single receiver to the backside runs a wheel route out of the backfield area, giving the quarterback a five step boot look with a deep shot, a trail concept underneath, and a wheel outlet if the pocket collapses. Primary read progresses from the deep corner breaking route off the bunch to the trail crosser underneath, working back to the wheel route as a checkdown against blitz pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows two deep safeties or a single high safety, since this play beats Cover 1 and Cover 3 man match looks where the corner route can split the safety and cornerback. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, since a lurking linebacker or nickel defender can jump the trail route and undercut the quarterback's first read. Key the flow of the middle linebacker after the snap, if he widens with the trail route he opens up the wheel route on the backside for a big gap in coverage. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can take away the deep corner route by having the safety rotate over the top, forcing the quarterback to check down to the trail route immediately. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge pressure the quarterback before the deep routes develop, so recognize overload blitz fronts pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out quickly on the trail route.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage looks where you see the bunch receivers aligned tight, since the natural rub created by the trail route and corner route generates instant separation versus man defenders trying to fight through traffic.
Check the cornerback depth pre-snap, if you see press man on the outside receiver running the deep vertical, throw with anticipation before the corner can recover off the jam.
Hot route the backside wheel route into a flat route if you diagnose zone coverage, since the wheel loses value against zone defenders sitting underneath.
Pair this with Bunch Verts or Bunch Sail in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect the vertical shot every snap, making the trail route underneath even more dangerous on the next call.
Best used on third and medium or first down situations where you can take a shot on the deep corner route but still have the trail crosser as a safe underneath answer against a blitz.
